Catching UP

Monday, May 25, 2009

As I'm sitting inside on this gorgeous Memorial Day 2009 (having had a procedure that makes it necessary for me to not do anything too physical (boo hoo), I went to one of my new favorite beauty sites: Totalbeauty.com.

Their main topic for today is what cities are best and worst for skin. I was very surprised at the ratings, especially that NYC wasn't one of the worst. Not even LA!!

What were some of the determining factors?
1. Weather - humidity or lack of humidity, how much weather changes
2. General pollution - how polluted is the city you live in can make a difference
3. Tanning salons per capita - the more tanning salons per person the more likely they're being used
4. Smoking - good old smoking, of course it affects your skin
5. Emotional - emotions such as high stress wreak havoc on skin as much as any other factor

I won't go through every city but there were some that really surprised me on both lists.

Bad
#13 Portland, ME You would think that Maine being mostly rural would be better but it has a lot of tanning salons
#12 Tacoma, WA For a state thought mostly of as rainy there are a lot of tanning booths and apparently there's a lot of stress in Tacoma
# 9 Kansas City, MO Not only is smoking a factor here but high pollution and humidity work together to negative effect
Not really surprised at Phoenix (# 5) but a little surprised it isn't higher. Lack of humidity is a factor in addition to the intense sun. Las Vegas, NV, Pittsburgh, PA, Houston, TX and Bakersfield, CA round out the rest of the top five.

Top 10:
10 Cheyenne, WY
9 San Francisco, CA - few sunny days, fewest smokers, fewer tanning bed (and CA regulates tanning beds as well)
8 Washington, DC - the sun shines only 50% of the time and people drink a lot of wine here
7 San Antonio, TX - only 3.4 tanning beds per 100,000 people
6 NYC - few tanning beds, 58% of days are sunny
5 Billings, MT - clean air, moderate humidity and more likely to use spray-on tanning solutions than tanning beds
4 Flagstaff, AZ - moderate humidity, low pollution, be sure to use sunscreen because it's still pretty sunny and a high elevation
3 Honolulu, HI - little weather change, moderate humidity and low pollution help make Honolulu an OK place for skin, but again, use sunscreen since it's still sunny
2 Bismarck, ND - "healthy skin: clean air, moderate sunshine and humidity and it has very low rates of skin cancer"
1 Anchorage, AK - in spite of the cold, there little year-round sun, humidity or pollution

No matter where you live or what you're doing throughout the year, be sure to use sunscreen and eat food that protect your skin against further harm.

--------------------------------------------------- My dad asked me what I wanted for my birthday and since I had just gotten done with my recital, my first suggestion was for a massage or for a gift certificate. His next question is where?

I don't go to spas regularly (unfortunately) so I'm not overly familiar with many in the area even though there are quite a few. A few years ago, I went to a spa in New Providence and it was very nice, but I always like trying new things and places. Sean had given me a gift certificate to the spa at the Hilton at Short Hills and. I went there last year and it was nice but it was too "zha" for me and just wasn't comfortable, but it was wonderful to be able to relax by the pool/hot tub for the day.

I checked out spas in Montclair, but even though it's not far, it's a drive to get there and don't want to go anywhere I have to drive too far and lose any of the calming and relaxing effects of the spa.

My friend Diane suggested the Terra Sky Center that I've been eying to visit for a while - Duh! It's close, only 2 miles. It just so happens that last Sunday they had an open house that Dawn & I went to.

The building is a former silk factory that was rehabilitated into a bank downstairs and the wellness center upstairs. It has a very Zen-like quality: falling water, quiet music and not-overwhelming potpourri scent.

It's a small place, but that's good because it means you can't get lost. They also have Pilates and this other machine called a gyrotonic. It's the coolest thing and would love to try it out sometime. It works every part of the body to loosen joints and tendons and everything else that can get "tight" with age or strain.

I've decided on a Pure Results Facial with an Eye Revitalizer Treatment add-on. For the massage I'm getting the Deep Tissue Therapeutic Massage with Hot Steam Packs. It seems to touch on a few different types of massage and love the idea of the hot steam packs, mmmmmmmm.

After the recital and work being crazy and the recent surgery I really need this.

Restorative, rejunenative and addictive...

Will let you know when it happens and how I liked the overall experience. If their complimentary massage last Sunday was any indication, I'll love it!!

Over the next few weeks, I'll review some of the different makeup and beauty sites I like. Also, want to review all the products found on the sink, bathtub and hair area!

Happy Summer, Makeupista!

In Your Eyes

Sunday, May 17, 2009

I'm always asking my husband how old I look, and he asks me the same question. I just turned 41 and he's still 40 - the lucky sod. Why are we so worried that we look "old"?

Yesterday, I went to my husband's grade school's Country Fair and met up with some of his former classmates, a few were women and I find myself looking at them and comparing myself to them. I also compare myself to the women I work with...crazy, I know.

I'm sure my issues are the same as other women's:

Frown line -
The thing I mostly compare myself to others (men included) is the frown line between my eyes that I've had since I was about 37, that I noticed anyway. However, I think it's gotten less noticeable since I started my new job. While I'm busier, it's work that I actually like to do and that makes a huge difference. I've been using a variety of products there including Doctor Burt's Res-Q Ointment.

Actually, I use this all over my face and neck. It says it's for the following:

• Bumps


• Bruises


• Burns


• Stings and Scrapes

It has some interesting ingredients, too: Sweet almond oil, olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, lavender oil, vitamin E and comfrey root extract. It has a strong fragrance and can also clear your sinuses!

Can't see getting botox, but Avon's ANEW CLINICAL Derma-Full X3 Facial Filling Serum looks interesting, but it's $54 and seems a bit high for my budget at the moment.

Eye lines -
While I pretty much use the Doctor Burt's ointment all over, I also use Vickery & Clarke Ultra Rich Eye Cream from CVS. My eye "crinkle" lines are much better than they used to be, but the one I worry about the most (thus increasing my frown line) is one that shows up in the morning - a sort of deep line that angles from the outside of my eye toward my nose. It drives me crazy. I put the V&C cream on and by the time I get to work, it's mostly gone. But still.

I've also taken to putting Blistex, yes, Blistex or even Carmex in this area. If it works for chapped lips, why not here, too? It' a lot less expensive!

Cleavage lines -
This is another spot that's driving me crazy at the moment. When I wake up in the morning and have been sleeping on my side, I notice very deep lines coming out of my decolletage. This may sound funny, but I've been putting a sock between my breasts to stop the lines from gathering. The biggest problem is that the sock moves during the night.

However, I just ordered the Intima Breast Pillow. I can't wait to try it!! There are straps that slip around my arms and the pillow goes in between my boobs and keeps them apart. There are a lot of great reviews from all kinds of women. It's nice to know I'm not the only one thinking about this. (update 2014: I barely used this. The pillow is HUGE. Nearly impossible to sleep with and it has straps that go around the arms too uncomfortable to use. I don't worry about this as much now that I've lost weight, but just last night I used a pocket/purse-sized Kleenex packet and it was the perfect size, but not sure how it will stay in place.)

I've also been much more conscious about my neck and cleavage lines.

Other places that are getting more creased are my elbows, knees, where my legs meet my torso and my veiny feet and hands - so pretty much every other part of my body!! I use some Cetaphil, a great all-purpose product to clean my face.

Sean looks at me and says that I look 33, but that's in dimmer light. The only part of hims that looks a little older is a few lines around his eyes from going to bed too late and a few more gray hairs.

I've been trying to do a much better job taking care of my skin for the past couple years. It's never too early to start!!

The biggest thing NOT to do is compare yourself to others.

Love and kisses,

Makeupista

How far would you go?

Sunday, May 10, 2009

This blog is about "beauty", but what are we really trying to attain through the creams, gels, soaps, cleansers, coverups, lipsticks, lip plumpers, crease fillers we put on our bodies? Eternal youth? Looking good for "your age?" Enhancing looks?

Time magazine recently had an article about "Amortals." Not amorals, people who lack morals, but people who are trying to not look or act "their age," and doing everything they can do prolong the aging process.

How far would you go to continue to look a certain age or, indeed, not to look "old" in whatever way you want to define it.

For me, I haven't ruled out a boob lift (would like a reduction, but that's another conversation) maybe a tiny bit of lipo to get rid of some of the bulges that make wearing a clingy top look better. Don't mind facials, but stop short at injecting my body with Botox, a poison coming from botchulism. However, I wouldn't mind if my "frown" line between my eyes wouldn't be quite so deep or the lines around my eyes quite so webby! Does that make me vain? Have I bought into society's guide for how I'm supposed to look?

I certainly don't want to look like any of the celebrities who've had awful plastic surgery so they can get a few more roles, but not sure I'm quite eager to go into middle age (hopefully) without looking my best!

It isn't just about looks. Keeping in shape and dressing younger are also ways we try to look younger. There's a point at which "staying fit" and anorexic aren't compatible. Not to say that weight or being heavier can't be healthy and attractive - if you're satisfied with the way you look no one should be force you to go crazy losing weight. Looking good isn't limited to thin. There are plenty of ugly clothing in size 0, too.

So much of how we look comes from being confident with who we are and no one - or any age - can take that away from you. However, for me, I love looking throught the Avon book each month and deciding which products to buy or which fun clothes I can still "get away" with wearing. Last weekend in Hoboken, I still turned a few guys' heads!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On a different note from above, I still find no reason not to try to look good or even a little younger than my "real" age (41) and more like my "true age" (between 28-32 from Facebook quizzes). I have plenty of creams, potions, gels, shampoos, conditioners and so on, and I say so what - it's fun!

Recently, I purhcased Pantene Natural Fusions shampoo, which is really nice. Sean gets Pantene shampoo/condition combination, but I hate the smell of original Pantene. This new Pantene, however, is much better and I must say that it does a great job on my hair. Yesterday was a nasty humid day. Using this and letting my hair dry naturally - no dryer - and had very little frizz, which I normally have.

I also used Hugo Naturals Vanilla and Sweet Orange conditioner that I got as a travel size at Whole Foods. The combo is really nice and clean.

Enjoy life! It's the only you've got!

Love, Makeupista!

Fun and Safe Sun

Sunday, May 3, 2009

My very early posts detailed my experience with burning and how to take care of that burn. Now, be sure to prevent burns and other sun damage to your skin.

Your first line of defense of course is a daily moisturizer, which should have at least an SPF of 15 - at the bare minimum. Be sure to include your neck and exposed cleavage this skin some of the most sensitive skin on your body and is the most likely to burn.

It's always a good idea to wear sunscreen if you're going to be outside for along time doing yard work or even walking for a good cause. A friend got a burn last week from walking for March of Dimes. It was a beautiful day, and she forgot it was one of the nicest days out and got very burned. Not only do burns hurt, they're very bad for your skin as the American Academy of Dermatolgy (AAD) suggests.

If you're going to the beach, be sure to take an umbrella along with a big hat and protective clothing as the AAD suggests, and don't forget sunglasses to protect your eyes. Some clothing has UV protection in it and does help a little, but it's not the only protection you should use.

Although it seem like you don't need to wear sunscreen on grey days, some rays do continue to come through the clouds and you're still exposed to all kinds of UV rays especially in the summer. It might be excessive, but you can still get a burn if it's slightly cloudy. Obviously on a rainy day you won't need it. You can also get sun if you have the sunroof open.

Other body parts to protect are your lips, back, and all of those place that rarely see the light of day until you're wearing that skimpy, or not even so skimpy bathing suit.

You might love the sun and need the vitamin D, but be sure to protect yourself and limit your exposure. High altitudes and places near water are key places where the sun can be extra strong.

I don't want to put a damper on your summer fun, but you really don't want to get a burn - not only because it hurts, or peel, or even blister and cause sun poisoning, you COULD get skin cancer and no one wants that.

These suggestions may seem pretty basic, you'd be surprised how many people forget do these things! You don't have to be fair skinned to think about them either!

Here are some items found on Amazon that look interesting:

• Rit Sun Guard Laundry Treatment UV Protectant
• Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock Stick, SPF-30, .47-Ounce Sticks
• Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee Sunscreen, SPF 4, 3.12-Ounce Bottles
• Kiss My Face Sunswat Waterproof Sun Block & Natural Insect Repellent, SPF 15, 4-Ounce Bottles
• Blistex Ultra Protection Lip Balm, SPF 30, Sun & Cold, .15-Ounce Tubes
• Maui Babe After Sun Lotion

Drugstore.com sun solutions with reviews.

Enjoy the sun, don't bake in it!

Makeupista!